active region 3664 and the great magnetic storm of '24

Here's a relatively large group of sunspots known as AR 3664:

active region 3664 5/11/24 21:36.9 UTC
red filter (Ha off band)

Earlier this week the magnetic field associated with this sunspot grouping blasted high energy plasma directly at our planet.  As a result, we experienced the biggest geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years last night, leading to auroras being seen as far south as the Florida keys.  members of my astronomy club were able to capture a red glow in the sky with cameras.  It was reportedly quite impressive around midnight from anza borrego.  sadly it was cloudy at home.  

Spaceweather.com writes:

"The low latitude of these sightings would seem to place this storm among the greatest aurora displays of the past 500 years"

The sunspot grouping is quite similar to the one that caused the carrington event (largest geomagnetic storm in history).  here it is earlier this week with the sunspot grouping of the carrington event superimposed (spaceweather.com).  

A stronger flare occurred today with a significant component directed at the earth so there may be more storms coming...

Here's an animation showing the sunspots in hydrogen alpha and red light:

AR 3664 5/11/24 Ha and red light

Current aurora forecast:

Last night's:

from spaceweather.com:

"ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT CME IS COMING: Giant sunspot AR3664 unleashed another X-flare today (May 11th @ 0139 UT)--its strongest yet. The X5.8-class explosion produced a significant CME with an Earth-directed component...

This CME could reach Earth on May 13th, adding new power to the ongoing geomagnetic storm. CME impact alerts: SMS Text"

Follow up: 

the second CME did not cause a significant geomagnetic storm.  However on 5/14/24 as AR 3664 was rotating off the visible disc (not pointing at us) it gave off the biggest solar flare of this cycle which peaked at X8.7

according to spaceweatherlive.com
it was a β-γ-δ – Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic class sunspot,
so basically a mishmash
the delta being sunspots containing opposite polarity in the same umbra which typically give the highest energy eruptions.

Image details:

East Bluff, CA

5/11/24 

21:34.2-21:36.9 UTC (2:30 PM local)

light clouds, mediocre seeing

Lunt 60/50 double stacked B1200 for Ha, single stack for off band

manual guiding with alt-azm mount

zwo ASI 290MM

20 second captures

best 50%

Ha

Frames captured=2236

FPS (avg.)=111

ROI=800x800

Shutter=0.174ms

Gain=351 (58%)

off band single stack

Frames captured=2237

FPS (avg.)=111

ROI=800x800

ROI(Offset)=0x0

Shutter=0.032ms

Gain=345 (57%)

AR 3664 Ha 
2024-05-11-2134.2 UTC